Spill Resistant Cup Receptacle

ABSTRACT

A combination cup receptacle and cup container assembly for instant food products such as instant soup is disclosed. The assembly includes a hollow cup receptacle having a central ring and a peripherally extending support base for holding and retaining a cup container holding a quantity of food ingredients. The central ring of the cup receptacle forms a cavity to frictionally receive and retain the cup container with the cup container in contact with the bottom of the receptacle cup cavity. The cup receptacle has venting means for preventing pressure differentials between support base of the cup receptacle and an external support surface such as a table top. The cup may be utilized as packaging for instant soup or other food products and the cup receptacle may be included as part of the packaging or provided as a separate item.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of containers for instant food products such as instant soups, and more particularly to a cup and spill resistant cup holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Instant food products such as instant soups are well established as a low cost quickly prepared meal and are sold in very high volumes. Many instant food products such as instant soups are comprised of a mixture of dry or dehydrated ingredients including dried noodles or dried rice. For convenience, these dry soup ingredients are packaged for consumer use in disposable insulated foam cups that also serve as an eating utensil for the soup product. The instant soups are then prepared by adding water to the dry soup ingredients contained in the foam cup and the water is heated in a microwave oven to complete the preparation. The soup may be consumed directly from the foam cup. A user may also add hot or boiling water to the dry ingredients in the foam cup to prepare the soup for consumption.

Depending on the method of preparation, the noodles and other dry solids often contained in the instant food products may become superheated. Accidental spillage of a prepared instant soup can be problematic as such spillage may cause severe burns if the heated liquid and soup solids come in contact with the skin of a user or bystander. Typically the foam cup containers are provided as part of the packaging for such instant food and soup products. These foam cup containers are not particularly stable so the container often exacerbates the problem of spillage burns.

Meals utilizing such instant food and soup products are often prepared and consumed by children as well as by adults. A significant number of burns reported from use of these products are on children. In general, children do not have the dexterity (reaction time) or attention span of an adult, making accidental spilling more likely. Reports indicate that many of the injuries are from lower income families. This is likely due to the low cost price advantage associated of such instant food and soup products.

Tipping of a container cup and the resulting splashing or spillage of hot soup contents could result from impact of the container cup with another object such as the hand or arm of a user or bystander or a change in the cup supporting surface such as the container cup tipping off the edge of the table). These tipping incidents may be exacerbated if the cup container is prone to sticking to a wet surface due to surface tension between the cup support surface and the container. While cup stabilizing devices have been proposed, these stabilizing devices focus on prevention of tipping merely by providing a cup or a cup support with an enlarged base to increase the force required to cause the cup to rotate and tip over.

Arguably, most cup container tipping causing actions are of a rapid nature. The time for spillage is the time it takes for the cup to rotate from vertical to the point where the contents may flow or fall out of the cup. Thus the reaction time necessary to prevent spillage after tipping is almost instantaneous to the incident of tipping. It is advantageous to have as much reaction time as possible from initial contact to spillage.

Consequently, a need exists for an improved container cup receptacle for a container cup for dry soup or other instant food products for instant food and soup products that will minimize the risk burn injuries frequently associated with the spillage or splashing of hot products from instant food and soup containers.

A need also exists for an improved container receptacle as an accessory to a food container cup that may be manufactured inexpensively and provided alone as an accessory item or as part of the food product packaging in order to allow the food product and associated container cup to be sold at competitive prices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presented invention provides a design for a container cup receptacle for a container cup for dry soup or other instant food products. The container cup receptacle may be provided as an accessory item for use in combination with suitable container cup or provided as a container cup and container cup receptacle assembly. The container cup and container cup receptacle assembly may be utilized alone or incorporated into the soup or food product packaging to address the aforementioned needs.

The proposed invention is a disposable cup receptacle to be used in combination with a disposable insulated foam cup in order to minimize the chance of cup tipping, spillage of hot liquid and food solids, such as hot noodles, and subsequent burns to a user or bystanders. The proposed product cup receptacle may be injection molded or formed at minimal cost per unit to allow an attractive price point to be maintained for the soup products. The design will also enhance the user's awareness and attention to incidents that may cause accidental spilling.

The cup receptacle is configured so that an inserted cup will fully engage the bottom of the receptacle. The cup receptacle is also provided with a bottom surface configured to increase the likelihood that the cup receptacle, when holding the cup, will translate or slide horizontally rather than tip. Cup tipping is caused when, in response to the application of a rotating force, the cup rotates from a vertical orientation to a point away from vertical where spillage is initiated. Cup sliding or translation will delay the time of spillage of the cup contents from the time the rotating force is applied to the cup and receptacle until the cup and receptacle interface with a secondary tipping force. Such a secondary force may be an impact with another object such as a book on a table or a change in the surface supporting the cup receptacle such as the edge of a table. Support surface conditions such as a wet support surface may case a container cup stick to the surface due to surface tension created between the cup and the support surface. Providing the cup receptacle with a bottom surface that will enhance the tending for the receptacle to translate or slide in a consistent manner across the support surface rather than tip or rotate will increase the time a user will have to react to a spillage situation. Further, when the response to the initial tipping force has been converted into a largely translational motion, a cup and receptacle sliding off the edge of a table onto the lap or a user of bystander will more likely tend to remain upright when falling. An upright cup and receptacle in such a situation provides an important advantage because if the cup remains upright, the risk of burns associated with superheated solids, such as noodles, in the soup or other food product will be minimized as an upright cup and receptacle will increase the likelihood that that the superheated solids will remain in the cup. Thus any potential burning of a user or bystander will be limited to the boiling temperature of the liquid in the cup rather than the temperature of the noodles which may be significantly higher.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of the cup and cup receptacle in accordance with the description set forth herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view take from section A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is side view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of a second embodiment of the cup and cup receptacle in accordance with the description set forth herein.

FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view take from section C-C of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is side view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 14 is an exploded isometric view of a third embodiment of the cup and cup receptacle in accordance with the description set forth herein.

FIG. 15 is an exploded side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cup and cup receptacle shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view take from section A-A of FIG. 16

FIG. 18 is a top view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 19 is side view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of the cup receptacle shown in FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a first embodiment of the combined container cup and cup receptacle assembly 100 for instant foods such as instant soup of Applicant's invention. The container cup and cup receptacle assembly 100 is comprised of a cup receptacle 110 configured to receive and retain an inserted food container cup 140 holding a quantity of a food product such as instant soup. The cup 140 has an exterior peripheral surface 142 and a cup base 144 that creates a cup space 146 for holding the ingredients of an instant soup. It is thought that the cup 140 will be a disposable cup constructed of molded polystyrene foam though other types of materials may be used for the cup 140 such as coated cardboard or polystyrene plastic.

The cup receptacle 110 is preferably formed as a unit of at least one sheet or layer of vacuum formed or pressure formed plastic, paper of other suitable material. The cup receptacle 110 has a vertically extending sidewall ring 112 configured around a central receptacle cup cavity 114 having an interior perimeter sidewall surface 116 that terminates in an integrally molded receptacle cavity bottom 118. The sidewall ring 112 and the central receptacle cavity 114 are configured to frictionally receive the cup 140 with the base 144 of the cup 140 in contact the bottom 118 of the receptacle cavity 114. The sidewall ring 112 also has a top 120 and an exterior perimeter sidewall surface 122 that terminates at a horizontally oriented receptacle base lip 124 extending from the periphery of said sidewall ring 112 that serves to support the receptacle 110 on an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top. The sidewall ring top 120, the interior perimeter sidewall surface 116, and the exterior perimeter sidewall surface 122 create a sidewall interior void space or hollow 126 within the cup receptacle 110. To provide rigidity to the cup receptacle 110, the sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 122 may be provided with a corrugated or crenate surface 128 having an edge comprised of a plurality of ridges or scallops 130.

The pressure differential between the outside or exterior of the sidewall ring 112 and the sidewall inside space or hollow 126 of the cup receptacle 110 may affect the ability of the cup receptacle 110 to translate or slide in response to a tipping force. A negative pressure may cause the cup receptacle 110 to “stick” to the support surface while a positive pressure may create a “floating” effect on the cup receptacle 110. These effects may be accentuated when the cup receptacle 110 is placed upon a wet surface. Such a pressure differential may be due to heating or cooling of air, deformation of the cup receptacle 110, or dynamic effects such as sliding caused by a tipping force.

To prevent the effect of pressure differentials on the cup receptacle 110, the cup receptacle sidewall ring 112 is provided with a plurality of openings or vents 132 distributed around the top 120 of sidewall ring 112. The vents 132 serve as conduit between the ambient sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 122 and the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 126. The vents 132 allow for an equalization of pressures between the exterior perimeter surface 122 and the sidewall interior hollow 126 and serve as a means for reducing or preventing pressure differentials between said cup receptacle 110 and the receptacle support surface 111 and a means for facilitating the translation or sliding of the receptacle 310 when the receptacle 310 is placed upon an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top in response to a tipping force.

The interior perimeter sidewall surface 116 is provided with an integrally molded offset or channel 134 that extends along the interior perimeter sidewall surface 116 between the receptacle cavity bottom 118 and the sidewall top 120. The channel 134 will serve as a rest for eating utensils and will also serve to allow drips from the utensil or from the cup 140 to collect in the receptacle cup cavity 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-13, there is shown a second embodiment 200 of the combination container cup and cup receptacle assembly. Container cup and cup receptacle assembly 200 is comprised of a cup receptacle 210 configured to receive and retain an inserted instant cup 140. The cup 140 is configured and manufactured as described above for the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1-6.

The cup receptacle 210 is preferably formed as a unit of at least one sheet or layer of vacuum formed or pressure formed plastic however, cardboard, paper of other suitable material may also be utilized. The cup receptacle 210 has a sidewall ring 212 configured around a central receptacle cup cavity 214 having an interior perimeter sidewall surface 216 that terminates in an integrally molded receptacle cavity bottom 218. The sidewall ring 212 and the central receptacle cavity 214 are configured to frictionally receive the cup 140 with the base 144 of the cup 140 in contact the bottom 218 of the receptacle cavity 214.

The sidewall ring 212 has a top 220 and an exterior perimeter sidewall surface 222 that terminates at a receptacle base lip 224 extending from the periphery of said sidewall ring 212. The base lip 224 serves to support the receptacle 210 on an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top. The sidewall ring top 220, the interior perimeter sidewall surface 216, and the exterior perimeter sidewall surface 222 create a sidewall interior void space or hollow 226 within the cup receptacle 210. To provide rigidity to the cup receptacle 210, the sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 222 may be provided with a crenate surface 228 comprised of a plurality of scallops 230. The interior perimeter sidewall surface 216 may also be provided with an integrally molded offset or channel 234 to serve as a rest for eating utensils and will serve to allow drips from the utensil or from the cup 140 to collect in the receptacle cup cavity 214.

To prevent the effect of pressure differentials on the cup receptacle 210, the cup receptacle sidewall ring 212 may be provided with a plurality of openings or vents 232 distributed around the top 220 of sidewall ring 212 to communicate with the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 226. As additional or alternative means for preventing pressure differentials on the cup receptacle 210 the base lip 224 may be provided with a plurality of grooves or corrugations 225 that extend through the exterior perimeter sidewall surface 222 to the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 226. The vents 232 and corrugations 225 serve as conduits between the ambient sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 222 and the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 226 to provide an air passage in communication with the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 226 and allow for an equalization of pressures between the exterior perimeter surface 222 and the sidewall interior hollow 226. Equalization of such pressures will serve to enhance the tendency of the receptacle 210 to translate or slide on an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-21, there is shown a third embodiment 300 of the combination container cup and cup receptacle assembly. Container cup and cup receptacle assembly 300 is comprised of a cup receptacle 310 configured to receive and retain an inserted instant cup 140. The cup 140 is configured and manufactured as described above for the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1-6.

In the third embodiment 300, the cup receptacle 310 is also preferably formed as a unit of at least one sheet or layer of vacuum formed or pressure formed plastic though any suitable material may be utilized. The cup receptacle 310 has a sidewall ring 312 configured around a central receptacle cup cavity 314 having an interior perimeter sidewall surface 316 that terminates in an integrally molded receptacle cavity bottom 318. The sidewall ring 312 and the central receptacle cavity 314 are configured to frictionally receive the cup 140 with the base 144 of the cup 140 in contact the bottom 318 of the receptacle cavity 314.

The sidewall ring 312 has a top 320 and an exterior perimeter sidewall surface 222 that terminates at a receptacle base lip 324 extending from the periphery of said sidewall ring 312. The base lip 324 serves as a support surface for the receptacle 310 for supporting the receptacle 310 on an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top. The sidewall ring top 320, the interior perimeter sidewall surface 316, and the exterior perimeter sidewall surface 322 create a sidewall interior void space or hollow 326 within the cup receptacle 310. To provide rigidity to the cup receptacle 310, the sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 322 may be provided with a crenate surface 328 comprised of a plurality of scallops 330. The interior perimeter sidewall surface 316 may also be provided with an integrally molded offset or channel 334 to serve as a rest for eating utensils and will also serve to allow drips from the utensil or from the cup 140 to collect in the receptacle cup cavity 314.

To prevent the effect of pressure differentials on the cup receptacle 310, the sidewall ring 312 may be provided with a plurality of openings or vents 332 distributed around the sidewall ring exterior perimeter wall surface 322 to provide an air passage in communication with the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 326. As additional or alternative means for preventing pressure differentials on the cup receptacle 310 the sidewall ring 312 may be provided with a plurality of openings or vents 325 that extend through the exterior perimeter sidewall surface 322 to the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 326. The vents 332 and 325 serve as conduits into the closed sidewall ring interior hollow 226 and allow for an equalization of pressures between the exterior of the sidewall ring 312 and the sidewall interior hollow 326. Equalization of such pressures will serve to enhance the tendency of the receptacle 310 to translate or slide on an external support surface 111 such as a table or desk top.

The look or visual appearance of the cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 may be configured or decorated in order to attract the attention of both children and adults. Such a treatment may be accomplished through shape, color, and graphics. For instance the sidewall rings 112, 212, 312 of the embodiments described herein may be colored yellow, orange, or red or other bright color to emphasize awareness of the cup receptacles and the need for caution when using the product. Warning stickers or labels 336 emphasizing caution or the hot contents may also be applied to the sidewall rings 112, 212, 312 or elsewhere on the cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 described herein in order to help reduce the incidence of inadvertent contact with the cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 that could result in accidental spilling.

It is thought that the receptacle base lips 124, 224, 324 and the receptacle bottoms 116, 216, 316 of the embodiments described herein will support the cup 140 evenly on a support surface such as a table or desk. When the cup 140 is so evenly supported the bearing pressure applied to the support surface will be minimized so as to enhance the tendency of the cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 to translate or slide on the support surface rather than tip when subject to a tipping force.

The cups 140 and cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 may be made by plastic thermoforming, injection molding, paper forming and the like. The embodiments of the cups 140 and cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 presented herein allow for a reduction of construction material being utilized. The embodiments presented also allow stacking of cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 and the cups 140. These embodiments allow for reduced manufacture, packaging, and shipping costs.

The proposed design and manufacturing process for the cups 140 and cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 will also allow the cups 140 to be utilized as the packaging for instant foods such as instant soup products. The cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 may then be provided along with the cups 140 and food product while still allowing the food product to be sold at a competitive price point. The cups 140 and cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 may also be manufactured as a separate item. If provided as separate items, cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 may be sized to fit commonly used containers and used as a spill resistant container receptacle for cup containers holding hot beverages and foods even if the cup receptacles 110, 210, 310 are not provided along with the cup containers or as part of the packaging for the food products.

It will be evident that various other changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the combination cup and cup receptacles described herein without departing from the spirit, scope, and material advantages of the invention. It is thought that the combination cup and cup receptacles presented herein will be understood from the foregoing description and that the forms described herein are intended to be merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A food container apparatus comprising: (a) a cup having an exterior peripheral surface and a base, said cup holding a food product; (b) a cup receptacle having a peripherally extending support base and a cavity configured to receive and retain said cup; and (c) means for preventing pressure differentials between said support base of said cup receptacle and an external cup receptacle support surface.
 2. The food container apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the method of constructing said cup and said cup receptacle includes plastic thermoforming, injection molding, and paper forming.
 3. The food container apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein means for preventing pressure differentials between said support base of said cup receptacle and said external support surface includes providing a pressure equalization conduit in said cup receptacle.
 4. A food container apparatus comprising: (a) a cup having an exterior peripheral surface and a base; (b) a cup receptacle having a sidewall ring configured around a central receptacle cup cavity having an integrally molded cavity bottom, said sidewall ring having an interior perimeter sidewall surface, a top surface, and an exterior perimeter sidewall surface that create a sidewall interior hollow within said cup receptacle; (c) a support lip configured with said receptacle base; and (d) means for preventing pressure differentials between said cup receptacle and an external support surface.
 5. The food container apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said sidewall ring exterior perimeter sidewall surface is a crenate surface comprised of a plurality of scallops.
 6. The food container apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said means for preventing pressure differentials between said cup receptacle and an external support surface includes a plurality of corrugations on said support lip that extend through said exterior perimeter sidewall surface to said sidewall interior hollow.
 7. The food container apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said means for preventing pressure differentials between said cup receptacle and an external support surface includes a plurality of vents distributed around said top of said sidewall ring to communicate with said sidewall interior hollow.
 8. The food container apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said means for preventing pressure differentials between said cup receptacle and an external support surface includes a plurality of vents distributed around said exterior perimeter sidewall surface of said sidewall ring to communicate with said sidewall interior hollow.
 9. The food container apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said means for preventing pressure differentials includes a vent opening extending into said sidewall interior hollow.
 10. The food container apparatus recited in claim 9 further comprising a channel configured with said interior perimeter sidewall surface of said sidewall ring whereby spillage from said cup may be directed to said receptacle cup cavity.
 11. The food container apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said cup is so evenly supported by said cavity bottom.
 12. The food container apparatus recited in claim 11 further comprising warning labels affixed to said cup receptacle.
 13. The food container apparatus in claim 11 wherein said cup receptacle is colored.
 14. The food container apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the method of constructing said cup receptacle includes plastic thermoforming, injection molding, or paper forming.
 15. The food container apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein said channel configured with said interior perimeter sidewall surface of said sidewall ring is configured to support an eating utensil.
 16. The food container apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said central receptacle cup cavity is configured to frictionally receive said cup with said base of said cup in contact said bottom of said receptacle cup cavity.
 17. A food container apparatus comprising: (a) a cup receptacle having a sidewall ring configured with an integrally molded cavity bottom to form a central cavity for receiving a cup for holding a food product, said sidewall ring having an interior perimeter sidewall surface, a top surface, and an exterior perimeter sidewall surface that create a sidewall interior hollow within said cup receptacle; and (b) a vent to said sidewall interior hollow whereby pressure differentials may be equalized.
 18. The food container apparatus as recited in claim 17 further comprising a channel configured with said interior perimeter sidewall surface of said sidewall ring whereby spillage from said cup may be directed to said central cavity of said receptacle.
 19. The food container apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said an interior perimeter sidewall surface is configured to frictionally retain said cup within said central cavity of said receptacle with said cup in contact said integrally molded cavity bottom.
 20. The food container apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the method of constructing said cup receptacle includes plastic thermoforming, injection molding, or paper forming.
 21. A container apparatus comprising: (a) a cup receptacle having a cavity configured to receive and retain said cup; (b) a support base extending peripherally around said cup receptacle; and (c) a pressure equalization conduit in said cup receptacle, said pressure equalization conduit serving to equalize pressure between said cup receptacle and an external cup receptacle support surface.
 22. The container apparatus as recited in claim 21 further comprising: (a) a cup having an exterior peripheral surface configured to be frictionally received and retained in said cavity of said cup receptacle.
 23. The container apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein said cup receptacle has a channel configured to retain spillage from said cup.
 24. The container apparatus recited in claim 23 wherein the method of constructing said cup and said cup receptacle includes plastic thermoforming, injection molding, and paper forming.
 25. The container apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said pressure equalization conduit in said cup receptacle is a plurality of corrugations in said support base.
 26. The container apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said cup is in contact with a bottom surface in said receptacle cup cavity.
 27. The container apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising warning labels affixed to said cup receptacle.
 28. The container apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said cup receptacle is colored.
 29. The container apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said cup is utilized as a container for a food product.
 30. The container apparatus recited in claim 29 wherein said food product is instant soup.
 31. The container apparatus recited in claim 29 wherein said food product is a beverage.
 32. The container apparatus recited in claim 22 wherein said container apparatus is utilized as packing for said food product. 